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Long Range Solid Waste Disposal and Recycling Committee

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Committees: Long Range Solid Waste Disposal and Recycling Committee

Mission:

To promote and encourage efficient long-range waste planning with a focus on recycling through the use of communication/education, facilitation, and best practices. 

Communication/Education Goals

• Set benchmarks and goals
• Update body of knowledge
• Update website
• Update flyers
• Create distribution lists
• Involve each of the schools and develop education program
• Involve recreational programs by creating recycling education program for kids involved
• Involve cable television and local media 

Facilitation Goals

• Full recycling throughout the town, including all schools and municipal buildings
• Enforcing recycling and transfer station rules, including resident permits and mandatory recycling
• Develop compost program

Best Practices Goals

• Determine what works for other towns around SWAP areas and implement best practices
• Incorporate recycling and green practices into developments around town - set an example for other towns
• Partner with Hingham League of Women's Voters, ICLE, and DEP
• Analyze commodity contracts
  

2007 Annual Report

While the mission of the Long Range Waste Disposal & Recycling Committee continues to be efficient waste practices, over the last year we have found our focus to be more and more directed toward the impact our choices have on the environment. The recycling part of our conversation has taken most of our attention and we have noticed that the concerns we share as a committee seem relevant to many of the members of our community.

Hingham is able to boast about quite a few accomplishments and improvements in waste disposal practices for 2007. The changes at the Transfer Station have allowed for more convenient access to the many forms of recycling now available. Signage at the Transfer Station has improved ease of locating the appropriate place for recyclable materials. And the revised "Rules and Regulations for Recyclable Materials and Household Waste Collected at the Hingham Transfer Facility", now posted at on the website provide clear instructions for town residents. In addition, , the town has allocated money to purchase recycling bins for public spaces around town, giving residents the choice to recycle instead of discarding those things that previously would have been called waste. We hope you have begun using the 30 new outdoor recycling bins that are placed alongside waste bins at sports and recreation sites around town, allowing for recycling of all drink containers. Seeking to establish consistency in the message that RECYCLING IS MANDATORY, DPW has purchased new recycling bins that will be available at all large Town events ( 4th of July Parade, Christmas in the Square, etc) to allow for recycling of the large numbers of beverage containers generated at such events.

The LRWDC would like to acknowledge the tremendous steps that have been taken over 2007 by the Hingham Schools to pull recyclables out of the waste stream. All the schools now have systems in place to recycle paper, glass, plastic, and metal containers, ink cartridges, and fluorescent light bulbs. The schools have been supplied with the necessary infrastructure (recycling bins and pick up schedules) to support consistent recycling within their buildings. And the Schools have purchased some of the recycling bins necessary for their many fields/playgrounds. The School system is working with the LRWDC towards the goal of purchasing the additional recycling bins needed to offer a recycling option at all fields and playgrounds in 2008 by seeking funds from local sports groups who use the School and town recreational facilities. With leadership from the School Administration, the Hingham schools are actively including education about recycling and sustainable practices in their curriculums, and in their communication with families. The School Administration now maintains a webpage on their website providing information about recycling practices in each of the schools and current initiatives aimed at sustainable practices. While the accomplishments in the school system are in line with other areas of town, we are especially optimistic that the impact of these changes will reach beyond the schools themselves. As our school children learn how to live sustainable lives, they will help their families move in similar ways.

With new recycling infrastructure in place, education and enforcement efforts are being improved. There were 150 citations issued at the transfer station this year for violations of mandatory recycling laws. First time offenders receive a simple warning. Second time offenders are forced to meet with the DPW to review policies and procedures. Citizens who are cited for a third time are banned from the transfer station for a year and need to apply for reinstatement. Please know the rules, it is your responsibility.

Looking ahead, we can expect to see the landfill capped in the near future with a moving target date of early 2009. As this happens, composting will be interrupted and new arrangements will need to be created. We expect to resolve this over the course of 2008. Additionally, many South Shore towns are adopting Pay As You Throw systems and we feel compelled to visit this conversation and assess the viability for Hingham. In 2007, Hingham recycled 4856 tons of materials representing a 40% recycling rate. At the same time, our disposed waste tonnage went down to 7621 tons from 8769 tons in 2006. We are encouraged by the decrease in trash and increase in recycling rates that happened in 2007, but we also feel a responsibility to consider any and all measures that will help Hingham to become a sustainable community.

As always, we are open to your feedback, suggestions and insights. Our committee becomes more effective when you share your vantage point. Feel free to contact us at anytime through our email address: recycling@hingham-ma.gov